STUDENT:
Your friend Peter is really struggling with learning foreign languages, especially English. He feels discouraged and is about to give up. You want to help him and convince him to try at least two ways of improving his English outside of school. Ask your friend questions about how he studies English and what methods he has already tried out.
You start a conversation.
TEACHER:
You feel really frustrated with English. You’ve tried to study before, but nothing worked. You think you’re just not talented for languages and are ready to give up. Mention that you used to do grammar exercises but stopped, you don’t study English anymore outside school, say why you’re not convinced or why you think they won’t work. Eventually, agree to try at least one activity — even if you’re still unsure.
The conversation should last around 5 minutes.
USEFUL PHRASES FOR THE STUDENT
Purpose: Open the conversation and express concern or support.
- “Hey, I noticed you’ve been feeling quite down about English lately.”
- “Let’s talk about it. Maybe I can help?”
- “Don’t be so hard on yourself — learning a language isn’t easy for anyone.”
- “I totally understand how frustrating it can be.”
Purpose: Find out what Peter has tried and how he feels about learning English.
- “What exactly have you tried so far?”
- “How do you usually study English outside of class?”
- “Do you ever read or listen to English in your free time?”
- “When was the last time you tried using English just for fun?”
Purpose: Offer practical, fun, and realistic ways to learn English.
- “Have you thought about watching English films or series with subtitles?”
- “What about chatting with people online — like in gaming groups or forums?”
- “You could read something short and interesting, like online news or sports articles.”
- “You don’t have to study traditionally — there are fun ways to learn.”
Purpose: Persuade Peter by explaining how the activity helps improve English.
- “That really helped me pick up new vocabulary naturally.”
- “It’s not about understanding every word — just getting the general idea helps.”
- “If you hear English more often, it becomes less scary.”
- “Speaking or writing to real people makes it feel more useful.”
Purpose: Boost Peter’s confidence and encourage him to try again.
- “You’re definitely not bad at languages — you just haven’t found the right method yet.”
- “You’ve already got the basics, you just need to keep using them.”
- “You don’t have to be perfect — making mistakes is part of the process.”
- “Why not try it for a week and see how it goes?”
Purpose: Reassure Peter if he’s unsure or negative.
- “I get it — it feels hard at first, but it gets easier.”
- “If it didn’t work before, maybe it just wasn’t the right method for you.”
- “You don’t have to do it alone — we could even watch something together.”
- “There’s nothing wrong with trying again — you’ve got more experience now.”
Purpose: Encourage Peter to take action and offer to help him.
- “I’m sure you’ll feel more confident if you give it a shot.”
- “Let’s make a plan — I can even help you get started.”
- “You’ve got nothing to lose. Just try it — I believe in you.”
- “It’s worth a try. And remember, I’m here if you need help.”